Less than a week after installing an ‘extra large’ XYZ CNC lathe Kristek Precision Ltd secured an ongoing order for large stainless steel seal rings which could not have been made on its existing machines.
The investment in the XYZ XL1500 ‘extra large’ CNC lathe – a 50hp/1500 mm swing over bed lathe equipped with Siemens 840D ShopTurn conversational control – highlights the Melksham subcontractor’s progression to larger, more complex machining. It is also in sharp contrast to the ISO 9001-accredited company’s beginnings, when the original 2000 sq. ft. workshop housed various small manual lathes, turret mills, capstan lathes and pillar drills.
Prior to establishing KPL in 1987, the directors had minimal experience of CNC machining. However, as the business grew year on year, with KPL demonstrating its expertise in the machining of prototypes and small to medium batches to tight tolerances and a high standard, the company began to invest in CNC turning machines, machining centres and CADCAM software.
Today the company’s 15-strong team provides a ‘one stop’ machining service, supplying precision CNC machined components to customers in a wide range of industries, including power generation, automotive testing, and oil and gas. Any additional requirements such as plating, painting and heat treatment are project managed by KPL, the primary objective being to deliver consistent high quality work at competitive prices.
“We are a skills-based company,” says Kelvin Stone, Director, “and this, in combination with a comprehensive range of CNC machine tools, means we are very flexible. We can CNC turn components up to 1500 mm diameter by 1000 mm long and CNC mill up to 2000 mm by 750 mm by 700 mm in most materials. These materials include plastics as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, with particular emphasis on difficult-to-machine materials such as stainless steels, titanium, Inconel and Hastelloy.”
KPL already had two large facing lathes, but machining of the 1350 mm OD stainless steel seal rings has been allocated to the new XL 1500 because the machine is more efficient and provides pinpoint accuracy. The machining sequence involves skimming the front face and machining several grooves, then machining the bore some five thou under size to allow for expansion and parting-off through to a depth of up to 30 mm.
The key dimensions of the machined ring are checked in situ using a portable co-ordinate measuring arm before parting-off takes place. This is the final stage of the machining sequence, as parting-off provides a finish machined rear face to the component, eliminating the need for a second machining set-up. However, because of the unpredictability of the expansion of the machined component, off-machine inspection is used to confirm the crucial bore/outside measurements of the first-off and any program adjustment, if required, is then made on the XL 1500 CNC lathe prior to machining successive components. The final 100 percent inspection of the machined component is then carried out on a large co-ordinate measuring machine.
As for new opportunities resulting from its installation, a company in Edinburgh already using KPL for large milling work has decided that the Melksham subcontractor should now take on its large turning work as well.
http://www.kristek.co.uk/
The investment in the XYZ XL1500 ‘extra large’ CNC lathe – a 50hp/1500 mm swing over bed lathe equipped with Siemens 840D ShopTurn conversational control – highlights the Melksham subcontractor’s progression to larger, more complex machining. It is also in sharp contrast to the ISO 9001-accredited company’s beginnings, when the original 2000 sq. ft. workshop housed various small manual lathes, turret mills, capstan lathes and pillar drills.
Prior to establishing KPL in 1987, the directors had minimal experience of CNC machining. However, as the business grew year on year, with KPL demonstrating its expertise in the machining of prototypes and small to medium batches to tight tolerances and a high standard, the company began to invest in CNC turning machines, machining centres and CADCAM software.
Today the company’s 15-strong team provides a ‘one stop’ machining service, supplying precision CNC machined components to customers in a wide range of industries, including power generation, automotive testing, and oil and gas. Any additional requirements such as plating, painting and heat treatment are project managed by KPL, the primary objective being to deliver consistent high quality work at competitive prices.
“We are a skills-based company,” says Kelvin Stone, Director, “and this, in combination with a comprehensive range of CNC machine tools, means we are very flexible. We can CNC turn components up to 1500 mm diameter by 1000 mm long and CNC mill up to 2000 mm by 750 mm by 700 mm in most materials. These materials include plastics as well as ferrous and non-ferrous metals, with particular emphasis on difficult-to-machine materials such as stainless steels, titanium, Inconel and Hastelloy.”
KPL already had two large facing lathes, but machining of the 1350 mm OD stainless steel seal rings has been allocated to the new XL 1500 because the machine is more efficient and provides pinpoint accuracy. The machining sequence involves skimming the front face and machining several grooves, then machining the bore some five thou under size to allow for expansion and parting-off through to a depth of up to 30 mm.
The key dimensions of the machined ring are checked in situ using a portable co-ordinate measuring arm before parting-off takes place. This is the final stage of the machining sequence, as parting-off provides a finish machined rear face to the component, eliminating the need for a second machining set-up. However, because of the unpredictability of the expansion of the machined component, off-machine inspection is used to confirm the crucial bore/outside measurements of the first-off and any program adjustment, if required, is then made on the XL 1500 CNC lathe prior to machining successive components. The final 100 percent inspection of the machined component is then carried out on a large co-ordinate measuring machine.
As for new opportunities resulting from its installation, a company in Edinburgh already using KPL for large milling work has decided that the Melksham subcontractor should now take on its large turning work as well.
http://www.kristek.co.uk/
